Spring Shadows Hat

Spring Shadows Hat

Well, what can I say about this hat? First and foremost, I guess, Malabrigo still makes a damn fine yarn. And with that out of the way, I should also mention that this hat has more openwork than it might initially appear - basically, all of the stuff between the braids is mesh. So it's a great change-of-seasons number, if I do say so myself.

Yarn: Malabrigo Mecha (100% Merino Superwash Wool ; 130 yards [120 meters]/100 grams); #875 Arapey - one skein

A braid, and some nice mesh.
In short, a lovely spring hat!

Needles: One 16" circular needle in size US 9, one 16" circular needle in size US 10.5, one set of double pointed needles (dpns), also in size US 10.5, and a cable needle (cn), or dpn for cabling

Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch marker

Gauge: 12 stitches = 4 inches on size 10.5 needles

So let's make a hat! First, then, using your size 9 needle, cast on 65 stitches loosely, place marker, and join in round. Then we'll knit some edging rows, as follows:

Edging Row: * (p1, k1) four times, p1, k2, p1, k1; rep from *

Knit this edging row until piece measures just over 1". Then we'll knit the following transition row:

Nom Nom Garter Hat

Nom Nom Garter Hat

You may be wondering why this thing is called the Nom Nom Garter Hat. The answer to that question is simple - it's because it will eat up your yarn scraps like "nom nom nom!" Before we get started, however, I should tell you a couple of things - first of all, you need roughly 50 yards each of your two main colors in order to get this hat going. Provided you have that, you can do your accent colors with quite small amounts of any worsted- or dk-weight yarns (or smaller, if you hold two strands together!). Also, I wrote my color combination out here so that you could make the hat with the exact same color scheme, if you wanted. Please, however, feel free to ignore my accent coloring (colors C - J), and do your own instead! If you choose to do this, however, you'll definitely want to pay attention to the length of the stockinette stripe on this hat - it is a better indication of the finished length than the garter stitch. To make the color pop, after all, you'll be blocking the snot out of this thing, and the garter will stretch a LOT.

Oh, and last but not least - I designed this hat back-and-forth, both for my peeps who avoid circular knitting, and because that's the only way to truly take advantage of the garter stitch. If you need help converting the pattern for circular knitting, just ask!

Sizes: Adult Small (Adult Large)

Yarn: Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash (100% Superwash Wool; 220 yards [200 meters]/100 grams); #1948 Mystic Purple - one skein (color A), #908 Magenta - one skein (color B) & various scrap yarns in worsted & dk weights (colors C - J) - roughly 50 yards total

This is how I kept my colors straight!
My children thought I was working on a cool
art project, at least.

Needles: straight needles in size US 7

Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch marker

Gauge: 20 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette, 16 stitches = 4 inches in garter

So let's get started! First, then, using your color A yarn, cast on 82 (90) stitches. Then we'll work the edging rows like so:

Row 1: using color A, p3, knit until you have 3 stitches left in row, p3

Row 2: using color C, knit

Bricklayer's Lace Baby Blanket

Bricklayer's Lace Baby Blanket

The story behind this project is simple: I've reached the age where my friends are starting to have babies, so I've started to knit baby blankets. Therefore, as soon as I knew a friend was pregnant, I began looking for the right fiber at my local yarn store. And I passed this one by for months and months before I finally saw it knit up, and loved the way the stitches looked like rain drops. So I brought it home and found this lovely stitch pattern, which shows off both the yarn and the pattern. And it's a quick knit, since it's chunky and all!

Yarn: James C. Brett Flutterby (100% Supersoft Polyester; 192 yards [175 meters]/100 grams); #B3 Blue - 3 skeins

The pattern. For all the bricklaying
babies out there.

Needles: 32" or longer circular needle in size US 10

Notions: Tapestry needle

Gauge: 11 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette

Okay dudes, are you ready to make a baby blanket? Then let's get started! First, cast on 96 stitches loosely. And then we'll knit the following set-up rows:

Set-up Row 1 (wrong side): knit

Set-up Row 2: knit

Set-up Row 3: knit

Set-up Row 4: knit

Pretty in Pink Cowl

Pretty in Pink Cowl

I've been staring at this page for a while now, trying to figure out what to say about this pattern. The problem, of course, is that I can only think of one thing - namely, that I'm super pleased by how well this little turkey turned out. It's light, it's springy, it drapes beautifully, and my baby CANNOT STOP GRABBING IT whenever I put it on (what can I say? The kid's got taste). It's also a very versatile piece, and looks good with anything from a flannel to a tank top and jeans. Just make sure to make it in a neutral-ish color, 'cause you're going to want to wear it every dang day.

Sizes: Small (Large) - fyi, the only difference in these two patterns will be the number of stitches in your cast on and the marker placement row. Also, the only reason I'm offering two sizes is based on head size - you're going to want this thing to fit snug up against your neck, and you're going to want the small if you have a smaller head, the large if you have a larger head.

Yarn: Berroco Folio (65% Superfine Alpaca, 35% Rayon; 219 yards [200 meters]/100 grams); #4524 Bailey - 1 skein

A closer pic of the lace

Needles: 16" circular needle in size US 5

Notions: Tapestry needle, five stitch markers

Gauge: 22 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette

So let's do this! First, cast on 142 (152) stitches loosely, place marker, and join in round. Then we'll knit the following marker placement row:

Marker Placement Row: k35 (k40), place marker, k19, place marker, k34, place marker, k19, place marker, knit until end of round

And once that's done, begin to incorporate Miniature Leaf Pattern from page 215 of Barbara G. Walker's A Treasury of Knitting Patterns, which goes like so:

Beauty of a Basketweave Hat

Beauty of a Basketweave Hat

Recently, AllFreeKnitting offered me the opportunity to review this yarn, Brown Sheep Company's Lanaloft, and design an exclusive pattern for their site. And obviously, since I'm only human (and cannot resist the thought of receiving yarn IN THE MAIL like it's freaking magic), I jumped at the chance. For now, you'll have to visit their site to find the pattern, though. You can find more pictures and the link below. :)

Yarn: Brown Sheep Company, Inc. Lanaloft (100% Wool; 160 yards [146 meters]/100 grams); LL83W Victorious Violet – 1 skein

That, my friends, is a basketweave.

Needles: one 16” circular needle in size US 7, one 16” circular needle in size US 8, one set of double pointed needles (dpns), also in size US 8

Notions: stitch marker, tapestry needle

Gauge: 18 stitches = 4 inches on size US 8 needles

As promised, then, you can find the rest of the pattern here. Make it, and be merry!

Minky Mittens

Minky Mittens

I've been plotting another pair of mittens for awhile now. In fact, I've been plotting them for so long that I didn't manage to complete them until our first spring-ish week here in Wisconsin (oops). While my timing is terrible, however, these mittens are not; made with a slip stitch color pattern, they are thick and warm, and can be sized from toddlers to adults. Now I just have to hope my kids don't grow out of them before next winter...

Sizes: Toddler (Child Small; Child Medium; Child Large/Adult Small; Adult Medium; Adult Large)

Yarn: Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash (100% Superwash Wool; 220 yards [200 meters]/100 grams); #1946 Silver Grey - one skein (color A), #810 Teal - one skein (color B for the toddler sized mittens) & #9863 Spring Meadow - one skein (color B for the children's small mittens)

The pattern. Plus an eye! Notice how the variegated color B
yarn changes the look of the mitten.

Needles: One set of double pointed needles (dpns) in size US 5, one set of dpns in size US 7

Notions: Tapestry needle

Gauge: 20 stitches = 4 inches on size 7 needles

So let's do this thang! Using your size 5 needles and your color A yarn, cast on 30 (34; 36; 40; 44; 48) stitches and divide evenly between 3 dpns. Join in round. Then knit the following ribbing row:

Ribbing Row: * k1, p1; rep from *

Knit this ribbing row until ribbing measures 1.5" (1.5"; 1.75"; 2.25"; 2.25"; 2.5"). Then switch to your size 7 needles and knit one row around, still in your color A yarn. And once that's done, we'll work a few more rows before we gusset in the thumb, as follows:

How to Make a Yarn Tassel

So here's the thing - tassels are an excellent flourish for many knit projects, and can take a hat or a scarf from "blah" to "bam!" They're also very easy to make by following the steps below.

1. Cut a rectangle of cardboard. The height should be at least as long as you want your tassel (you can always trim the ends; you can’t make ‘em grow!), and it should be wide enough to fold in half easily.

Diana's Cowl

Diana's Cowl

The story behind this cowl is simple: a lovely friend sent me a wonderful Galentine's Day package, and I wanted to reciprocate with a knit good (or a good knit! See what I did there? Yes, I'll show myself out...). Anyway, she gave me the item and the color, and I designed something that (I hope) will suit her perfectly. And while this particular item is made extra-scrumptious by the alpaca yarn, I think a cotton or silk would also suit it well.

Yarn: Cascade Yarns Pure Alpaca (100% Baby Alpaca; 220 yards [200 meters]/100 grams); #3003 Ruby - one skein

The pattern. It's got holes!

Needles: One 16" circular needle in size US 7

Notions: Tapestry needle, three stitch markers

Gauge: 18 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette

So let's do this! First, cast on 91 stitches loosely, place marker, and join in round. Then we'll knit the following marker placement row:

Marker Placement Row: k1, (p1, k1) 17 times, place marker, k21, place marker, k1, * p1, k1; rep from * until end of round

And now we'll move on to a few edging rows that begin to use our pattern, which incorporates a strip of Double Herringbone Mesh from page 301 of Barbara G. Walker's A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns, and goes as follows:

Edging Row 1: p1, * k1, p1 * until you reach first marker, slip marker, k2, (yo, ssk) 3 times, yo, slip 1-k2tog-psso, (yo, k2tog) 4 times, yo, k2, slip marker, p1, * k1, p1 *

Edging Row 2: k1, * p1, k1 * until you reach first marker, slip marker, knit until next marker, slip marker, k1, * p1, k1 *

Lace Cable Fingerless Gloves

Lace Cable Fingerless Gloves

First and foremost: I highly recommend against viewing these photos larger. We are in the middle of a cold, dry winter here in Wisconsin, and my hands are SCARY. Luckily, not everything is quite so terrifying. And that includes these gloves, which are designed and knit on straight needles for all of my dpn-despising peeps. Of course, if one of my dpn-loving peeps wants to see this pattern adapted for the round, just hit me up in the comments and I'll help you out too!

Sizes: small (medium; large) (the small will fit a hand roughly 7" - 8" in circumference at the base of the thumb, the medium a hand about 8" - 9", and the large 9" +)

Yarn: Cascade Yarns Cascade 220 Heathers (100% Peruvian Highland Wool; 220 yards [200 meters]/100 grams); #9461 Lime Heather - one skein

A close up of the pattern.
Leafy, no?

Needles: One set of needles in size US 7, one set of needles in size US 5, one cable needle (cn)

Notions: Tapestry needle, two stitch markers

Gauge: 20 stitches = 4 inches on size 7 needles

So let's get started! We're going to work our two gloves a teensy weensy bit differently (the cables will be reversed). So, for the first one, you'll start by using your size 5 needles, and casting on 38 (42; 46) stitches loosely. Then we'll work the following ribbing rows, which will be the same for all sizes:

Ribbing Row 1 (wrong side): p2, * k2, p2; rep from *

Iris Bloom Bonnet

Iris Bloom Bonnet

First and foremost: yes, this yarn is divine. Simply heavenly. Gorgeous, lovely to knit, and beautifully variegated. But even if you don't have or can't find this particular fiber, you're in luck, because I have a sneaking suspicion that this super fun hat would look great in almost any worsted weight yarn. And if that's not incentive enough to make this hat, then consider this: I actually wrote up two patterns for this little beauty - one version that includes knitting in the round, and one that's made entirely on straight needles. Both begin in the same way, below. 

Note as of 11/24/15: This hat fits like an adult small. I have adapted the in-the-round version of the pattern for an adult large in the comments below. :)

Update February 22, 2021: For some reason, the comments no longer seem to work on this post. Please email me with any questions at ballstothewallsknits@gmail.com.

Yarn: Malabrigo Rios (100% Merino Superwash; 210 yards [192 meters]/100 grams); #416 Indiecita - one skein

This stitch pattern makes me wanna say "yeah!"
My kids would be so embarrassed.

Needles: One set of straight needles in size US 5, one set of straight needles in size US 7, one 16" circular needle in size US 7, and one set of double pointed needles (dpns), also in size US 7 (if you're knitting it entirely on straight needles, you don't need the circulars or dpns)

Notions: Tapestry needle, three stitch markers

Gauge: 18 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette

So let's get started! For either version of this hat, we'll be working from the brim of the piece, and we'll begin by working back and forth rather than in the round. As such, using your straight needles in size US 5, cast on 118 stitches loosely. Then work the following rows:

Edging Row 1 (wrong side): p2, * k2, p2; rep from *

Edging Row 2: k2, * p2, k2 * 

Simple Eyelet Cowl

 

Simple Eyelet Cowl

I bought this yarn quite some time ago, on sale at the local yarn store. And I've been staring at it ever since, trying to find a way to show off the delicacy of the yarn in a compelling manner. Finally, I settled on this simple eyelet design, which brings a touch of class to a basic style. And while I don't have much else to say about the piece, I should mention - it was while knitting this item that I finally taught myself to hold the yarn continental style. The learning curve threw off my gauge, so I didn't get quite what the yarn package predicts. It's not a big deal, of course, just something to note if you're going to use the exact same fiber.

Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine (50% Peruvian wool, 20% Super Fine Alpaca, 30% Nylon; 433 yards [400 meters]/100 grams); #1214 Steel Cut Oats - one skein

The eyelets

Needles: One 20" or 24" circular needle in size US 2

Notions: Tapestry needle, two stitch markers

Gauge: 26 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette on size US 2 needles

So let's do this thing! First, cast on 162 stitches, place marker, and join in round. Then we'll knit the following set-up rows:

Set-up Rows 1 - 4: purl

Set-up Row 5: p80, place marker, purl until end of round

And once those are done, we'll move on to the main pattern, which is Simple Eyelet Pattern from page 168 of Barbara G. Walker's A Treasury of Knitting Patterns. And we'll proceed as follows: